Mode oe managing the blast and dbaet oe eitrnaces



A. COLLINS.

Blast Furnace.

No. 1,054. Patented Dec. 31, 1838.

AM PHOTO-LITHO.CD.N.Y. (OSBDRNE'S PROCESS.)

- rrien.

ASAHEL COLLINS, OF ULSTER VILLAGE, NEW YORK.

MODE OF MANAGING THE BLAST AND DRAFT OF FURNACES, FORGES, AND FIREAPPARATUS OF VARIOUS DESCRIPTIONS. I

Specification of Letters Patent No.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ASAHEL COLLINS, of Ulster Village, in the county ofUlster and State of New York, have invented an Improved Mode of Managingthe Blast and Draft of Forges, Furnaces, and Fire Apparatus of VariousDescriptions, and that the following is a full and exact descriptionthereof.

The purpose to which I have applied my improved mode of managing theblast and draft is to the heating of iron in a forge or furnace, for themanufacture of axes; but it may be applied to forges and furnacesgenerally whether for heating metals, producing steam, or warmingapartments.

The accompanying drawing represents a vertical longitudinal section of aheating furnace with this apparatus attached to it.

A, is the interior of the furnace, which must be duly inclosed, andconstructed in such a way as shall adapt it to the particular purposefor which it is to be employed. On the top of this furnace I place a fanwheel of the ordinary construction of those used for blowing, in variousmachines where a current of air is required. The drum B, B in which thefan is contained, I have in my furnace, made of three feet six inches indiameter, and the vanes C, ten inches wide; the opening D, in itscenter, communicating with the furnace,is twelve inches in diame ter. Tothe fan wheel I have given a speed of about three hundred revolutions ina minute. I mention these things as general guides, because I have foundthe apparatus as described to answer the purpose intended perfectlywell; but, of course, the propor tions, and arrangement, may be variedindefinitely. The fan when so fixed is intended to exhaust the air fromthe furnace, which may then receive its supply for the combustion of thefuel by atmospheric pressure. I am aware that such a fan wheel has beenemployed for the purpose of blowing air into forges and furnaces; and Iam also aware that exhaustion has been effected in the fines of furnacesby means of exhausting cylinders, furnished with pistons, but not,

1,054, dated December 31, 1838.

as I believe, by means of a fan wheel, or vane such as I have described;and it is in this application of the fan wheel to this special purpose,that my invention in part consists. I have, however, applied the samefan wheel, to the double purpose of exhausting the furnace above thefuel and of blow ing the fire. Then I thus apply it the periphery of thedrum is completely inclosed excepting an opening therefrom into a blastpipe E, E. This blast pipe is to conduct the air which is driven off bythe vanes into an lnclosure, F, or any convenient receptacle, under thefuel in the furnace. By this means the heated air which has passedthrough the apparatus is in part, returned to the fire again, a constantcirculation being thus kept up. I say in part returned, because freshair must necessarily be admitted to carry on the combustion; andprovision must be made for this by means of proper tubes; and also forcarrying off a corresponding portion of the air which has passed throughthe furnace. When the apparatus is used for heating only the portionrequired to be renewed will be comparatively small; but where a veryactive combustion is required it must be proportionately increased. Themodes of doing this are various and obvious.

The exhaust wheel, or, this wheel when used for exhausting and blowing,may be fixed to run vertically as well as horizontally, and it may belocated in any part of the pipe, or flue, between the point whereexhaustion is to be effected, and that where the blowing is to takeplace.

I claim The forcing of any required portion of the air which has beenexhausted, through suitable tubes or pipes, so as to supply heated airto the fire, in conjunction with such portions of fresh air as it may befound necessary to supply; the same being effected substantially in themanner set forth in this specification.

ASAHEL COLLINS. Witnesses:

VVILLIADI MILNOR, MORGAN CARR.

